SECOND CITY SMOKE

SECOND CITY SMOKE is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2015. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 29 at the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2014), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #743 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#743

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1635

peak 1635 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 3, 2013

latest Sep 11, 2015 · 2.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#323

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

10 podiums

Overall top-10s

86% of 14 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 20%

overall standings

Best overall

690.8000 / 720

Master · Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship

Perfect 180s

Current form

681.66 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 671.79 (+9.87)

Walk rate

86%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Chicken · Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship

Consistency

±13.66

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.72 · weakest Brisket (166.23)

Road miles

3,589

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 561 mi

Schedule strength

41%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1554)

Master avg

671.79 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The heartbreaker

1.7260 points from the title

Came within 1.7260 points of the Grand Championship at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Jul 11, 2014).

Happy hunting ground

Top 11% average finish here

Grill Games is their spot: an average finish in the top 11% across 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 3rd
average top 11%

They almost always walk

86% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 12 of 14 contests

A top-10 category call in 86% of their 14 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

690.8000 career-best overall

95.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 690.8000 at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship — 95.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 18, 2013

A tough matchup

5–0 behind in the head-to-head

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ has come out ahead in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Risky Brisket in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Announced themselves early

4th at their very first contest

Finished 4 of 48 at their very first tracked contest, The Masters in May (May 3, 2013).

May 3, 2013
48-team field

Show 2 more storylines

The long haul

3,589 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,589 miles across 14 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 561 miles to Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship.

14 mapped stops
furthest 561 mi

The metronome

±1.90% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.90% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.3% of a perfect score
14 contests

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2015 ↗	Master	#1281 (210 pts)	#1180 (260 pts)	#1776 (120 pts)	#1923 (115 pts)	#1158 (260 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#435 (892 pts)	#461 (832 pts)	#365 (1,007 pts)	#549 (707 pts)	#535 (692 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#323 (949 pts)	#411 (749 pts)	#393 (789 pts)	#276 (1,044 pts)	#526 (604 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to SECOND CITY SMOKE, each with one reason worth a look.

SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE

#746 of the rated field

1634 power rating

Contests: 56
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1651

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to SECOND CITY SMOKE)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team SECOND CITY SMOKE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 55 contests
last seen Aug 20, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

Not So Famous Dave's BBQ

#742 of the rated field

1635 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1635

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 22 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Oct 14, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

DEGUELLO BBQ

#744 of the rated field

1635 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 65%
Peak: 1643

A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 23 contests to 14.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Oct 24, 2014

⚔ Compare careers

My Smokin' Grillfriend

#745 of the rated field

1634 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 34%
Peak: 1646

29 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 34% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 29 contests
last seen May 28, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

FLAMING PIG

#741 of the rated field

1635 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 34%
Peak: 1645

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 29 contests
last seen Aug 3, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

BAD BONES BBQ

#735 of the rated field

1636 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 54%
Peak: 1636

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to SECOND CITY SMOKE)

Level with SECOND CITY SMOKE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Aug 17, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
QUAU	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
iBQ'n	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
BRINGIN' THE HEAT	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
KAVE DWELLERS	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKE HUNTERS	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
GILLY'S BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
YELLOW RIVER BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
Risky Brisket	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
2 SKINNY COOKS	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
KEN'S BURNT ENDS	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
MOOSE'S BARBECUE	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	7	0	3	178.8572	153.0856	168.72	top 31%
Pork Ribs	14	6	1	3	176.0116	159.4286	168.16	top 28%
Pork	14	8	0	3	176	157.6684	168.68	top 27%
Brisket	14	4	0	1	174.2628	151.9998	166.23	top 35%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	6	0	top 22%
Large (40+)	8	0	top 19%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
WI	6	top 19%
IL	4	top 15%
AR	2	top 26%
IN	2	top 26%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship	2	8	top 26%	Sep 26, 2014
Grill Games	2	3	top 11%	Aug 22, 2014
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	2	2	top 20%	Aug 1, 2014
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	6	top 26%	Jun 27, 2014
The Masters in May	2	4	top 27%	May 2, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 7 contests

Contests a season 4.7 across 3 seasons in the data

Most contests held in WI 6 of 14 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 9 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 369 finished ahead 488 times, behind 107

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20152 milestones

Sep 11 Peak power rating (1635) Windy City BBQ Classic
Sep 11 Most recent contest Windy City BBQ Classic

20143 milestones

Jul 11 First category win (Pork Ribs) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jul 11 First Reserve Championship Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jul 11 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20137 milestones

May 3 First tracked contest The Masters in May
May 3 First call The Masters in May
May 3 First overall top-10 The Masters in May
May 3 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.7144 The Masters in May
Aug 23 First overall podium Grill Games
Oct 18 Career-best overall score690.8000 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship
Oct 18 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.8572 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14	The Masters in May	May 3, 2013
+13.8	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 11, 2014
+13.5	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship	Oct 18, 2013
+11.9	Grill Games	Aug 23, 2013
+11.6	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	Aug 2, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-0.5	The Masters in May	May 2, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2015	1	1	0	100%	top 7%	95.9%	95.9%
2014	6	4	1	67%	top 28%	95.9%	93.1%
2013	7	7	0	100%	top 15%	95.9%	93.1%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 11, 2015	Windy City BBQ Classic Chicago, IL	4 / 61 (690.7884)	2 (177.7028)	13 (168.5600)	14 (170.2628)	2 (174.2628)
Sep 26, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR	18 / 50 (690.7656)	21 (174.2628)	35 (169.1200)	12 (174.2628)	24 (173.1200)
Aug 22, 2014	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	7 / 47 (668.5712)	11 (169.6684)	12 (166.2972)	23 (159.4284)	5 (173.1772)
Aug 1, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Madison, WI	10 / 30 (674.8000)	6 (171.9772)	10 (169.7144)	9 (168.5944)	22 (164.5140)
Jul 11, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI	2 / 29 (683.3712)	3 (174.2856)	1 (176.0116)	7 (168.5484)	10 (164.5256)
Jun 27, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Indianapolis, IN	8 / 26 (662.8112)	11 (166.2856)	2 (173.1544)	13 (163.9884)	18 (159.3828)
May 2, 2014	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	28 / 62 (642.7540)	49 (153.0856)	13 (166.8572)	32 (157.6684)	14 (165.1428)
Oct 18, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR	8 / 50 (690.8000)	6 (178.8572)	20 (171.4172)	30 (166.2628)	12 (174.2628)
Aug 23, 2013	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	3 / 43 (672.5372)	14 (165.7144)	2 (172)	4 (172)	14 (162.8228)
Aug 2, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Rockford, IL	6 / 30 (675.8856)	15 (167.9656)	12 (167.4172)	3 (173.1084)	12 (167.3944)
Jul 5, 2013	Firin' Up the Fox BBQ Contest St. Charles, IL	7 / 34 (657.1426)	10 (164.5714)	9 (164.5714)	2 (176)	20 (151.9998)
Jun 21, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Indianapolis, IN	6 / 29 (669.1426)	6 (170.2858)	16 (159.4286)	7 (169.1426)	5 (170.2856)
May 24, 2013	Westmont Red, White & BBQ Westmont, IL	10 / 70 (667.9998)	42 (160.0002)	9 (170.2856)	9 (171.9998)	19 (165.7142)
May 3, 2013	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	4 / 48 (657.7144)	3 (167.4286)	16 (159.4288)	3 (170.2858)	17 (160.5712)

SECOND CITY SMOKE

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Master avg

Storylines (9 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Announced themselves early

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)